MLB Player News
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Samuel Basallo C | BAL
Orioles' Samuel Basallo: Big day in Friday's win
Basallo went 4-for-5 with a double and a solo home run in Friday's 10-3 win over the Red Sox.
The 21-year-old slugger drove a Brayan Bello cutter into the seats in right-center field in the third inning, one of six Baltimore homers on the night. Basallo has three multi-hit performances in the last eight games as he puts his early-season struggles behind him, batting .360 (9-for-25) over that stretch with two homers, four RBI and more walks (four) than strikeouts (three).
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Adley Rutschman C | BAL
Orioles' Adley Rutschman: Goes yard twice in big win
Rutschman went 3-for-5 with two home runs and six RBI in Friday's 10-3 win over the Red Sox.
The switch-hitting catcher took Brayan Bello deep in the first and fourth innings as part of a 20-hit, six-homer barrage from Baltimore's bats. Rutschman has been locked in since returning from a brief IL stint due to an ankle issue, racking up five hits, three homers and eight RBI in two games -- a surge that has pushed his slash line on the season to .349/.417/.698 through 48 plate appearances.
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Carlos Narvaez C | BOS
Red Sox's Carlos Narvaez: Idle Saturday
Narvaez isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against Baltimore.
Narvaez has tallied a base hit in each of his last five games, but the Sox will give him a breather Saturday and start Connor Wong at catcher instead.
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Jose Trevino C | CIN
Reds' Jose Trevino: Plays rehab game Friday
Trevino (back) went 2-for-2 with two runs scored in a rehab game for High-A Dayton on Friday.
As planned, Trevino caught five innings for the Dragons, which sets up the veteran backstop to rejoin the Reds for Sunday's series finale against Detroit. He's expected to return to a backup role behind primary starter Tyler Stephenson.
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Liam Hicks C | MIA
Marlins' Liam Hicks: Homers in Friday's win
Hicks went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run and an additional RBI in Friday's 9-4 win over the Giants.
Hicks took Adrian Houser deep in the first inning and added a sacrifice fly in the third. Over his last 10 games, Hicks has gone 14-for-39 (.359) with four extra-base hits and 11 RBI. He's batting .317 with an .896 OPS, five homers, 24 RBI, 15 runs scored, three doubles and a stolen base over 92 plate appearances. Hicks has gotten fairly steady playing time between catcher, designated hitter and first base this season, giving him ample value even in one-catcher fantasy formats.
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Will Smith C | LAD
Dodgers' Will Smith: Belts third homer
Smith went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run in Friday's 6-4 loss to the Cubs.
Smith started the scoring with a blast off Jameson Taillon in the third inning. Prior to Friday, Smith had gone 0-for-9 with a walk and two strikeouts over his previous three games. The catcher is batting a solid .266 with a .729 OPS, three homers, 14 RBI, 11 runs scored and no stolen bases over 24 contests this season. The Dodgers have a good problem in trying to balance playing time between Smith and Dalton Rushing, who has been even better at the dish with seven home runs in just 35 plate appearances. That's a battle that Smith is winning for now, though he may get more off days during his slumps if Rushing's bat stays hot as well.
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Patrick Bailey C | CLE
Giants' Patrick Bailey: Resting Friday
Bailey is not in the Giants' starting lineup against the Marlins on Friday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Eric Haase will start behind home plate and bat ninth while catching pitches from Adrian Houser for Friday's series opener. In 15 games since April 1, Bailey has gone 7-for-45 (.156) with one steal, one home run, three RBI and a 3:8 BB:K.
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Willie MacIver C | TOR
Blue Jays' Willie MacIver: Heading to Toronto
The Blue Jays acquired MacIver from the Rangers on Friday in exchange for cash considerations.
MacIver will now be a part of Toronto's organization after he was designated for assignment by Texas on Thursday, and he has been subsequently been optioned to Triple-A Buffalo. He gives the Blue Jays additional depth at the catcher position while Alejandro Kirk continues to recover from a fractured left thumb and with C.J. Stubbs (undisclosed) on the 7-day minor-league injured list. Tyler Fitzgerald was DFA'd by the Blue Jays in a corresponding move.
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Gary Sanchez DH | MIL
Brewers' Gary Sanchez: Not in Friday's lineup
Sanchez is not in the Brewers' starting lineup against the Pirates on Friday.
Sanchez has been seeing more time as the Brewers' designated hitter in the absence of Christian Yelich (groin), but the former will be idle for the start of Friday's contest while Tyler Black operates as the team's DH and bats in the cleanup spot. Over his last 10 games, Sanchez has gone 8-for-35 (.229) with two home runs and eight RBI.
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Austin Wells C | NYY
Yankees' Austin Wells: Idle Friday
Wells isn't in the lineup for Friday's game against the Astros.
Wells will take a seat on the bench to begin Friday's contest after going just 1-for-12 with two walks and an RBI over his last four games. J.C. Escarra will pick up a start behind the dish as a result and bat seventh.